The Ecuadorian Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Ecuadorian Minister.1
Legation of Ecuador, Washington: Peru refuses to comply with the article 6 of the arbitration convention, notwithstanding that the royal arbiter, in order that the mediation should be effective, has withheld the award to facilitate a direct settlement in accordance with article 6.
Please tell the American Government that the Government of Ecuador believes that his answer to the United States, Brazil, and Argentina is correct, because the only means to avoid war and to safeguard the prestige of the principle of arbitration is to accept the friendly mediation, fulfilling at the same time the obligations imposed upon both countries by the article 6 of the arbitration convention in accordance with the attitude that was assumed by the royal arbiter when he took notice of the mediation. Besides, if Peru violates the article 6 the treaty will be without value.
The Government of Ecuador hopes that the mediators will easily persuade Peru that there is no object in putting such obstacle in the way of a mediation so well conceived by the illustrious Secretary of State, Mr. Knox, who, with his enlightened foreign policy, has established an important precedent in the diplomatic history of America.
- Left at the Department of State by the Ecuadorian minister.↩